Has vegan activism gone too far?1:16

Australia has seen a recent surge in vegans protesting against eating meat. But if they want to get their message across, they may be going about it the wrong way.

February 1st 2018

a year ago

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Vegan parents Robert Buskey, 31, and Julia French, 20, are charged with starving their five-month old baby. Picture: WFTVSource:Supplied

A baby boy allegedly nearly starved to death after his vegan parents switched his doctor-prescribed formula to a mashed potato-based meal they found online.

Julia French, 20, and Robert Buskey, 31, of Florida, have been charged with child neglect after investigators found the infant weighed just under 4kg, after being recorded at birth at 3.5kg, according to WFTV news.

The five-month-old baby is in hospital, and his parents are in the Brevard County Jail.

The couple are also said to follow Nazarite Hebrew religious principles.Source:Supplied

Authorities in Florida claim the child was “frighteningly gaunt and thirsty”.

According to the WFTV, an investigator said the baby was clearly malnourished with his ribs visible and sunken eyes — the infant was also so lethargic he had trouble maintaining temperature and sugar due to dehydration and malnourishment.

“At one point, when the child was doing good and healthy and gaining weight, he was on an organic formula and they changed it on their own,” Titusville Police Detective Lauren Watson told WFTV.

French considers herself to be Buskey’s concubine. It’s not understood why they stopped using vegan formula prescribed by their doctor, which they could afford.Source:Supplied

“I’ve never seen a child to this level, this close to possible death.”

The self-described vegans, who also follow Nazarite Hebrew religious principles, couldn’t explain why they stopped using the organic formula which was reportedly prescribed to fit in with their vegan lifestyle.

Since Wednesday, the boy, who is now in foster care, has gained about 0.22 grams.